Anticipating Change

Click here to read my post over at the Presbyterian Record.

It can't be 25 years - can it?

Well, yes, the truth of it is that it has been 25 years!  The picture on the left was taken on Friday, March 13, 1987 shortly after the delivery of my first and biggest 'baby'.  Baby Petrof, measuring 5'8", and weighing in at (I have no idea!) came to my home on a snowy March day a quarter century ago. 

I never could have imagined then where I'd be now or what paths my professional life has taken.  I didn't yet know my husband, Gord.  Now we have a teenaged son.  I recorded my CD on this piano.  Countless students have sat on its bench to learn how to play.  Today is not the end of the story by any means, but it does feel like a significant day somehow.   And really, who would have thought dolman sleeves would be back in style?!

Exciting news!

I love how a figurative door can open and I suddenly realize there was a room on the other side I didn't know existed until that moment.  That's what happened last week when I was asked to blog for the Presbyterian Record's online presence.  The website has been renovated and now, under the "Blogs" tab on the main page, you will find a sub-heading "Affiliated blogs".  That's where you will find my pieces as well as those of other affiliated bloggers.  I am grateful for this opportunity that has come my way!  I haven't quite figured out the best way to post.  Should I write one post for both places?  Maybe it would be better to write separate entries for here and there.  Whatever way I work it out you can be sure that I will continue to invite (and welcome!) your comments in either place.  I will continue to express opinions on music - worship music most of the time - and hopefully relate life to faith and music. 

So what song has been going through my head today?  The song it seemed I dreamt all last night:  By faith we see the hand of God, a new hymn (2009) by Stuart Townend, Keith Getty and Kristyn Getty.  If I had to summarize it, I'd say the text was Hebrews chapter 11 set to a very singable tune which is exactly what I've come to expect from this writing team.  You can read the text and download the music by going here.  Better yet, you can hear it at Gettymusic.

What's the difference? Part 2

In our family photo library, there seem to be a huge number of photos of me sitting on the piano bench.  That's not really a surprise, I guess, when you consider my occupation.  Sometimes I'm sitting with my back to the keyboard, sometimes facing it. I'm still thinking about the stubborn/persistent thing and came up with this comparison; please accept it as my attempt to lighten up a weighty thought!

The notes on the page are stubborn - inflexible and unchanging.  

I am persistent in my practise until I can perform those notes to the best of my ability.

What's the difference?

I've been thinking a lot over the last week or so about being stubborn and being persistent.  I got as far yesterday as looking up definitions for these 2 words and really, on paper, they are more similar than one might think.  The difference seems to be mostly in connotation.  If I hear someone say a person is stubborn, the image that comes to my mind is an inflexible attitude and an uncooperative spirit.  However, if a person is described as persistent, I would see someone who keeps at their task, whether chosen or assigned, until it's completed.

When it comes to a life of faith, is one word better than the other?  Does each word have pros and cons?  Can someone be stubborn and persistent about the same thing?  As always, my readers, your comments are welcomed.

Unusual weather

Last week we had three foggy days in a row. Now I know in some parts of the world, that would be a completely normal weather pattern, but here on the prairies, I'm guessing it would be more average to have 1 day in a winter (or 2 at the most) with fog and hoarfrost. The first day was Wednesday. The sun came out in the afternoon enough to brighten up the day but not get rid of the frost. Both Thursday and Friday, the fog lingered all day and frost built up on bare tree limbs and evergreens alike. Late Friday afternoon I walked up to the corner to buy a paper and while I enjoyed the walk and the scenery, I have to say it felt a little apocalyptic the way trees and buildings would appear out of and fade back into the fog.

As often happens, I found myself recalling an appropriate hymn text and what came to mind was:

O Lord, my God!
When I in awesome wonder consider all the works Thy hands have made...
then sings my soul... How great Thou art!
Words: Carl Gustav Boberg; English translation: Stuart K. Hine

The photo above was taken in the park behind our home.

The photo on the left is the spruce in our front yard.